Jeremiah 18

By the parable of a potter God sheweth unto his people his power to make or save them and to break or destroy them and thereupon exhorteth them to repentance verse1,2 &c but complaineth of their rebellion great ingratitude such as was not to be found among the heathen for elsewhere which he must needs punish them 12 the prophet complaineth of their blood thirsty counsels against him and prayeth unto God to punish them of the same 18.

1. The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord saying:

2. Get thee up and go down to the potters [Hebrew the farmers] house and there I will cause thee to hear my words.

3. Then I went down to the potter’s house and behold he made a work [or he did his work he labored] on the wheels [the Hebrew word is put in the dual number because there be two wheels which the potter use in their labor the lowermost which is greater and the uppermost which is smaller as some say that it is still in use in the eastern countries others stools forms.]

4. And the vessels that he made [others that he made of clay with his hands] was marred like clay in the hands of the potter [that is the clay in the hand of the potter is wont sometimes to miscarry] then he made of it again another vessel [Hebrew he returned and made it another vessel] as it was right in the eyes of the potter [that is as it seemed good unto him or pleased him] to make it.

5. Then the word of the Lord came to me saying:

6. Shall l not be able to do unto ye as this potter O house of Israel? saith the Lord [compare Isaiah 45:9 Romans 9:10] behold as that is in the potter’s hand so are ye in mine hand O house of Israel [compare Isaiah 64:8.]

7. In a moment shall I speak concerning a nation a kingdom that I will pluck up and pull down and destroy it [as above chapter 1.10.]

8. But if that nation concerning whom I have spoken of it turn from their wickedness then will I repent [see Genesis 6:6 so verse11] of the evil [that is mischief, misery plagues so verse 11] that I thought I do unto them [unto that nation and kingdom.

9. I shall speak in a moment concerning nation or concerning kingdom that I will build or plant it.

10. But if it do that which is evil in mine eyes that is hearken not to mine voice then I will repent to the good [that is happiness prosperity and blessing]wherewith I had said that I would benefit them [that nation and kingdom]

11. Now then speak now to the men [as above chapter 17.25 and 4.3] of Judah and to be inhabitants of Jerusalem saying thus saith the Lord behold I form evil [see of the word evil above verse 9] against ye [the Hebrew word rendered here forming is the same which above signified a potter as if the Lord hath said , I will prepare and bake evil c] and think a thought against ye [that is I intend to bring evil upon ye compare 2 Samuel 14:14 and below verse 18] therefore return ye now everyone from his evil way and make your ways and your dealings good [see above chapter 7 on verse 3 compare also 2Kings 17.13 below chapter 25.5 and 26.13 and 35.15]

12. But they say it is past hope [see above chapter 2.25 and 6.16] but we will walk after our own thoughts and will do everyone the evil of every one the imagination of the evil heart [as above chapter 3.7.]

13. Therefore thus saith the Lord ask now among the heathen who hath heard such things? [Compare above chapter 2.10] the virgin of Israel [compare above chapter 14.17] doth a very horrible thing [compare above chapter 5.30.]

14. Will a man also leave a rock of Lebanon for a rock of the field? [that is will a man leave a pleasant cooling snow of mount Libanon whereunto God compareth himself for a dry rock of the field ? whereunto idols and idolatry are compared] shall also the strange cold flowing waters be forsaken ? [to wit these waters that come down from other distance hilly places by secret passages under the ground and are derived by channels and pipes and at last make and yield a very wholesome cool and pleasant fountain in a city or hard by it so that it would be softly to forsake these waters and to seek elsewhere other waters and other shall also the stream to wit which are nigh at hand be forsaken for strange or outlandish or terrible as the word strange is also taken Isaiah 28:21 cold waters which may be or unknown unwholesome and very hurtful ? the meaning of this verse which may be diversely rendered is that the people of God did deal very foolishly in forsaking the true God and the true worship of God wherein their salvation consisted and running the heathenish idols and help to their own destruction as is shewed in the next verse.]

15. Yet my people have forgotten me [compare chapter 2.32 and 3.21 and 13.25] they burn incense to vanity [to idols as above chapter 14.22] for they have caused them to stumble in their ways [which were prescribed to them by God the false prophets procured that people taking offence at the true worship of God turned aside unto idolatry compare Malachi2.8] in the ancient paths [Hebrew part of eternity that is antiquity which are formerly taught by God published by Moseh and walked in by Godly patriarchs of the signification of the word Olam see above chapter 2 on verse 20 and 6.16] that they might walk in the paths of a way that is not cast up [that is not trodden wherein it is inconvenient and dangerous to walk or an untroden way such as are rocks and snowy mountains whereof in the former verse.]

16. To make their land astonishment [that is matter terror and admiration other desolation so below chapter 19.8 and 25.9 and 29.18] everlasting whistling [or whistling hissing and piping of eternity token of reproach and shame see 1 Kings 9 on verse 8 and below chapter 19.8 and 25.9,18 and 29.18c or making their land an astonishment &c that is occasioning thereby these punishments and bringing the same upon them or left I being thereby provoked anger make their land c compare below chapter 27.10,15 Lamentations 2:14 Mich. 6.16 with the annotate] whosoever passeth thereby shall be astonished and shake his head [see 2Kings 9 on verse 21]

17. As an east wind [that is as if I were an east wind or as with the east wind which was very strong and piercing in those countries see Exodus 10 on verse 13 and Job 27 on verse 21 compare Isaiah 27.28 and 29.6 and above c 4.11, 12,13] will I scatter them before the face of the enemy [compare above chapter 13.24] I will cause them to see the neck and not the face [that is shew myself averse and contrary to them and not kind and favorable to them as they likewise have done to me Hebr. I will see them the neck and not the face which some understand thus that God will look after them or pursue them while their fleeing see below chapter 32.33] in the day of their deadly destruction [or deadly mischance.]

18. Then said they [unto whom Jeremiah had spoken all these things by command from God see above verse 11 or they have said or say]come let us think thought against Jeremiah [that is lay thought against him devise devices to take away his life compare the phrase with verse 11] for the law [or doctrine see Psalms 1 on verse 2] shall perish from the priest nor counsel from the wise nor the word from the prophet [they imply that Jeremiah is a false prophet because almost all that are in the account in the people of God as priest eldest and other prophets speak against him of whom they notwithstanding belief that Gods spirit doth not forsaken them and that men ought to obey them see Deuteronomy 17:9,10 Malachi 2:7,8 John 7:48,49] come and let us smite him with the tongue [fall upon him with false witnesses and put him to death as false prophets other for the tongue sake that is for his grievous and intolerable prophesies] and let us not listen to any of his words.

19. Lord listens to me and hearkens to the voice of my contenders [that is of them that contend with me of whom he complained above that they departed from him chapter 17.13.]

20. Shall then evil be recommenced for good? [Is that befitting? Have deserved that faithfulness towards them? The prophet implieth] for they have digged a pit for my soul [that is laid a plot take away my life] remember that I stood before thy face to speak good for them [or for their good that is to pray for them so that thou wast fain to command me to make more intercessions in their behalf see above chapter see above chapter 7.16 an d14.13,21,22c] to turn away thy wrath from them

21. Therefore deliver up their sons to the famine [compare this prayer with Psalms 69:23 c 109.6 c and see the annotate there] and cause them to flow away [cause their strength to perish like water that is powered out or cause their blood to flow away compare 2 Samuel 14:14 Psalms 22:15 and 63.11 Ezekiel 35:5] by the force of the sword [or means of the sword Hebr. Hands of the sword so Job 5:20 see there] let their wives be bereaved of children and be widows [compare above chapter 15.7,8] and let their man be killed by death and their young men be slain with the sword [Hebr. The slain of the sword] in the battle.

22. Let there be a cry heard from their houses when thou shalt bring [or shall have brought] a band [a company of plundering and destroying soldiers to wit the Babylonians] suddenly upon them because they digged a pit to take me [compare Psalms 7:16 and 9.16 and 35.7 and 57.7c] and hid snares for my feet [that is laid snares secretly to cause me to fall.]

23. Yet thou Lord knowest all their counsel against me to death [tending to kill me] make an atonement for their iniquity [or do not graciously cover their iniquity compare Psalms 65:4 with the annotate] neither blot out their sin from below thy face that it should not remain before thee in remembrance and account to be punished] let them be cast down [Hebr. Let them be felled down ones or be thrust down ones so that they being brought to stumbling and falling may consequently be thrown down] deal thus with them [or against them in the time of thine anger.